STUDENT SERVICES HAPPNINGS

School refusal can be a sign that a student is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally unsafe. It is not about defiance or lack of motivation. It is often a cry for help. As staff, showing compassion and patience can make a world of difference. By taking the time to listen, offering reassurance, and working together with families and support teams, we can help students feel seen, understood, and gradually ready to re-engage with school in a supportive and caring way.

9:35 am - 10:35 am CASE MANAGER: O'Brien GEN ED: Peterson

8:00 am - 8:45 am Hannah Minucci, Domenica Ottolino, Jane Denenberg, Julie Polifka, Mary Hamilton, Sarah Taylor

12:00 pm - 8:00 pm Parent/Teacher Conferences

8:00 am - 1:00 pm Parent/Teacher Conferences

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School avoidance/school refusal is not a clinical diagnosis. It is a symptom of an emotional disorder or other underlying issues which propels the avoidance.

Therefore, there is no diagnostic code for school avoidance in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition: DSM-5 which is the definitive authority that defines and classifies mental health disorders.

(Click on the link below)

• General Education teachers, please take the time to completely fill out the document that case managers send out so that they can completely fill out the IEP.
• Please reach out to the student's Case Manager first if you have any questions or concerns about a student in your class.
• Please remember to email Helen when you are scheduled to attend an IEP meeting. I send her a list, but sometimes the teacher changes and she is unaware.

• Please use this link, Book a time to talk to schedule a Pre and Post Conference and a Formal Observation. For non-tenured staff, the cycle needs to be completed by December 19, 2025. If you have difficulty finding an opening, please let me know what day and time you are trying to secure.
• Grade Level Special Education Meetings will be held on 11/3/25, 12/1/25, 2/2/25, 3/2/25 and 5/4/25. The agenda will be available the Thursday prior to the meeting and is linked to the calendar invite. Feel free to add to the "Parking Lot".
• Please remember to upload a link to the IEP Summary on the PowerSchool Accommodations page.

The PURPLE FOLDER contains helpful information on the contents of the IEP and helpful examples on how to write PRESENT LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE so that we produce legally compliant IEP's.

(Please see Sarah Taylor if you need one)

Click on the folder for more information.